Lucas Duda has started off the 2017 season a lot stronger than most have expected. In 10 games, Duda is hitting .286/.390/.686 with two doubles, four homers, and seven runs batted in. For a guy who missed four months last season due to a stress fracture in his back, that is very impressive.
Friday night, Duda hit a long, 441 foot solo shot to deep center field. It was his third this week, as he hit two homers Tuesday night in Philadelphia, one 448 feet over the batters eye. With Tuesday night and last night’s blasts, Duda now owns the two longest Mets homers of the season and is the only MLB player with two 440+ blasts thus far this season.
Another positive the Mets have seen thus far is that Duda has held his own against left handed pitching. Last season, Duda hit an abysmal .133 in 30 at-bats against southpaws. In a very small sample size, Duda has a .571 average and two homers and two doubles in seven at-bats against lefties.
Despite the high power numbers thus far, Duda has been slotted towards the bottom half of the lineup often to start the season.
Terry Collins explained this reasoning to Mike Puma of the NY Post. “The one thing we try to do with a lot of guys especially when you are coming off a year like Lucas has had is put him where we’re not asking a lot. Just got out and get your legs under you a little bit and get a feel for being back in the lineup … I think he can relax.”
